By Holmes Lybrand, CNN
(CNN) — Federal authorities have seized over a dozen websites they say were used by suspected Chinese agents to recruit former and current American officials with security clearances.
According to the FBI’s affidavit for the seizures, several unnamed people used the websites as a front for fake “consulting companies to recruit individuals in the United States to obtain sensitive and possibly classified information in exchange for monetary payments.”
The websites allegedly advertised for such positions as “International Affairs Analysts (Remote),” Defense Analyst, “Jobs for Ex-Military Personnel” as well as generic “consulting” positions.
The affidavit lists seven unnamed people who were recruited through the websites and says the recruiters asked for papers on various subjects including China and US relations, Iran and the Israel-Palestine war — all while pressing for insider or exclusive information.
The FBI believes the people running the alleged scheme, who were all located overseas, were acting “wittingly or unwittingly” on behalf of the Chinese government. In a press release Wednesday, the Justice Department noted the people running the websites “denied any involvement by any foreign government.”
The websites were paid for through cryptocurrency and foreign banks. It’s unclear if any classified material was ever shared through the alleged plot.
“The conspirators have also paid the various recruits at accounts located in the United States through payments originating from accounts located overseas,” the affidavit says.
The FBI says the conspirators used identify theft, AI-generated photos and videos and “relatively large payments for research reports” in their attempt to gain access to sensitive intel.
Last year, a report from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service alleged foreign actors were attempting to recruit federal employees and capitalize on the Trump administration’s plans for mass layoffs across various agencies, CNN reported at the time.
At least one foreign intelligence officer directed an asset to create a company profile on Linkedin and post a job advertisement, and to actively pursue federal employees who indicate they are “open to work,” the NCIS document reviewed by CNN said.
Targeted recruits, the FBI says, were hired through job postings related to topics of interest to the Chinese government on job search websites including LinkedIn, Upwork and other similar sites.
The conspirators allegedly copied information and photos from real companies overseas and used them on the scam websites, according to the affidavit.
One of the websites allegedly contained testimonials from the fictional cast of the Anchorman comedy movie, including Will Ferrell’s character Ron Burgundy and Steve Carell’s Brick Tamland.
The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.
FBI seizes over a dozen websites it says were used by Chinese agents to recruit US officials News Channel 3-12.
Hence then, the article about fbi seizes over a dozen websites it says were used by chinese agents to recruit us officials was published today ( ) and is available on News channel ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( FBI seizes over a dozen websites it says were used by Chinese agents to recruit US officials )
Also on site :